Watch This Now: The Lonely Island – “Diaper Money”
“I got that wife pussy, I got that pussy on lock…”
Back so soon? Yep! Another Wack Wednesday has been and gone, and we have another brand new video from The Lonely Island crew to get us in the mood for their third studio album, The Wack Album. So, we’ve already had a play on an overused phrase; as well as some brilliant contrasts between vacation hedonism and GLBT rights. Where do we go from here?
Pretty simple, folks. The time for kiddie games is over! We’re dealing with adults here! Ones that can afford to give their babies things to poop in! Adults that are married! Adults that have life insurance and a grave plot! This is some grown-ass man shit! It’s fitting, then, that the guys have made a video dedicated entirely to this remarkable premise. It’s a real breakthrough for TLI, and I have a feeling that you guys will have a great appreciation for it.
Watch This Now: The Lonely Island – “Spring Break Anthem”
“Let’s get fucked up, then find Mr. Right and get monogamous…”
About damn time! Given their previous track record of releasing a record every other year, it’s new album season for The Lonely Island. We were teased earlier in the year with The Wack Album‘s lead single, YOLO (You Oughta Look Out), which featured hook man Adam Levine and the badass Kendrick Lamar. Unfortunately, Y,WGAV! missed out on that one – didn’t see it until it was too late! A real shame, given these guys are no strangers to this part of the internet. Still, no use worrying about that – we’ve got bigger issues at hand!
What issues, I hear you cry from the far reaches of wherever the fuck you’re reading this from? Two big ones, actually: Marriage equality and getting absolutely smashed on spring break. I think you’ll appreciate that both have been intensely discussed and debated recently, and there is certainly a world of controversy surrounding them. Through releasing Spring Break Anthem, TLI want to make sure we’re on board in support of both – and they make very convincing arguments. Hell, I was sold the second I realised that Andy Samberg had ditched Joanna Newsom in favour of getting hitched to Zach Galafianikis, who introduces the clip with a Between Two Ferns interview starring James Franco; who also finds himself getting married in the proceedings. God bless America!
Old Favourites: Dave Carroll – “United Breaks Guitars”
“I should have flown with someone else, or gone by car…”
This fiasco went down circa 2009, but I was too busy walking around university with a finger up my arse to notice anything that wasn’t Merriweather Post Pavilion. It was recently brought to my attention thanks to The Checkout, the outstanding new ABC show from Chaser alumni Julian Morrow and Craig Reucassel. To launch their customer-service rant website, FUTube, they Skyped charming Canadian singer/songwriter Dave Carroll to discuss how his music video was a complete game-changer.
For context: He took a flight with United Airlines, and due to luggage mistreatment his guitar – an acoustic Taylor, worth three-and-a-half grand – was broken at the headstock. He took it up with United, who subsequently fucked the guy over until he couldn’t take it anymore. He decided to get revenge in the best way that he knew – he made a music video for a brand-new original song; in which he when into specific detail regarding how the airline mistreated him. Almost instantly, the video was a runaway success, ending up with major PR dramas for old mates United. Taylor Guitars themselves even donated two brand-new guitars to Dave; and when he finally got compensation from the airline, he gave it to charity. What a legend!
As for the video, it’s a very charming shoestring-budget clip, in which Dave even gets to play the broken guitar in question. The extras are the ones that make this for me – his backing band dressed up as Mariachi singers, the apathetic stewardesses and the bumbling comic timing of the two guys playing the luggage carriers. It’s fascinating how this managed to create such a stir, and how the medium of the music video has done so much in this regard. There’s even a book about this whole ordeal now, written by DC himself. Just goes to show what a little creativity can get you – in this case, there’s a chance of a minor revolution!
Watch This Now: Kollektivet – “Hit Song”
“We have to use every trick in the book, and make a hook so good…”
Today, I’m going to throw in a couple of clips that I normally wouldn’t feature – just because I’m a little bit taken by the out of the ordinary at the moment. This one comes to us from a sketch comedy group in Norway of all places. I was alerted to it this week, given my love of not only excessive and glossy pop videos, but anyone with the right amount of wit to properly lambaste them. Kollektivet have decidedly killed it, ripping the current rave-pop trends set by acts like Avicii, Swedish House Mafia and the like.
The clip is based around fictional rockstars STDS (Scandinavian Techno Dance Society), a hapless duo of idiot savants. The group consists of Adam Inkazzo (vocals/lead synth/cool glasses) and Fatswell (vocals/beats/also cool glasses), who introduce their own video for Hit Song. The video takes us to an Orwellian future, where hit music has inexplicably been banished. STDS are the last hitmakers in the world, and it’s up to them to reclaim it. If this sounds completely ridiculous, it’s because it is. I genuinely don’t know what’s funnier – the fact that these guys have nailed this parody with such distinct vitriol and energy; or the fact that I wouldn’t be surprised if a serious act probably sketched out the idea for the video with a bold, confident face before; thinking it would be a brilliant idea. A great idea, and a video highlight of the year thus far from the most unexpected of places.
Watch This Now: Psy – “Gentleman”
“Yougun, pegi, tur, equa, machen, varriya…”
You seriously thought we were going to sleep on this one again? After the insanity of PSY passed by Y,WGAV! completely until he hit the top 5 of our best clips of 2012, there was no way we were going to let the all-important follow-up just go drifting on by. Here we are, 6-odd albums into old mate’s career and about a quarter past the peak of insanity that lead to Gangnam Style reaching one billion views. That statistic again: One. Billion. Views. (Dr. Evil pinky). Is Gentleman just a rehash? Is it funny? Is it worth another billion?
It’s taken me a few viewings, and I admittedly didn’t love it as much as my first views of Gangnam Style, but I’m officially on board with Gentleman. He’s once again playing up to a ridiculous character, a few of the familiar faces from Gangnam are back on board and there’s plenty of new antics to have fun with – this may well be the first time I’ve ever seen a fart dart in a music video. He manages to pack a great deal of action and fun into the video’s three minutes. The dance is far less complicated and pretty easy to get on board with; not to mention the great location shots and the choreography bringing it all together. As far as ridiculous pop videos go, it’s bang on. Can we get past the whole tall poppy syndrome and just be happy for the world’s most unlikely popstar? Have a ponder – while doing the dance, of course.
Top 30 Videos of 2012: 20 – 16
Business time! We’re in the top 20 now and there is NO turning back. Let’s go!
+++
20. Aimee Mann - Charmer
Directed by Tom Scharpling
Oh, Aimee. While most musos your age are meticulously tinkering away on bullshit, you emerge out of nowhere with a delight like this one. The title track to her album is all about the way people perceive you, and in turn how they can be deceived quite easily by such things. Bringing this to life might sound like a bit of a bummer, but Aimee manages to do it with an unshakable smirk and some very entertaining surreal art. After not wanting to go on tour, Mann hires a robot version of herself. All kinds of craziness ensues, as one would expect. But hey, if you can’t laugh at yourself…
Read my original post on Charmer here.
19. Bob Dylan - Duquesne Whistle
Directed by Nash Edgerton
After essentially – and somewhat accidentally – pioneering the conceptual music video all those years ago with Subterranean Homesick Blues, it’s interesting that the only part that Dylan hmself plays in this video is simply strolling the streets with what can only be described as an oddball posse. I wouldn’t even say it’s a sub-plot. He just happens to be there. The true story of Duquesne Whistle is far darker, far more sinister and far more sour than its opening minutes would have you believe. A love story turns into some happy accidents, but those accidents have serious consequences. Is it all about the anguish of true love? Who knows? All you can say is that it’s one of the best videos Zimmerman has ever done.
Read my original post on Duqeusne Whistle here.
18. Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra - Do It with a Rockstar
Directed by Amanda Palmer, Wayne Coyne,
George Salisbury and Michael McQuilken
Well, holy shit. If you’ve been following the first lady of punk cabaret over the years, you’ll be well aware the girl knows how to throw a party or two. But this? This? This is next fucking level entirely. This was the video party of the year, with all apologies to Bieber and his pool crew. Dude, there’s so much glitter! And pole-climbing! And watermelon smashing! Everyone is making out with everyone! It’s at the same time terrifying and exhilarating. So much fun to be had, in such a particularly manic way. Oh AFP, no-one does it better.
Read my original post on Do It with a Rockstar here.
17. The Beards - Got Me a Beard
Directed by Tom Bettany, Michael Bidstrup,
Joshua Fielder, Joel McMillan and Chris Edser
Have you ever felt exiled or alone because of your devotion to your facial hair? The Beards sure as shit have – hence their decision to create this cartoon utopia in which all kinds of beards from all across the world can come together and live in peace. Outside of this bearded heaven is a different matter entirely, of course; as you will well see from the video. But even for a moment, there is justice in a world of beards. What was I saying? Oh, yeah: BEARDS.
Read my original post on Got Me a Beard here.
16. Gotye - Easy Way Out
Directed by Darcy Prendergast
What do you do to follow up one of the most iconic videos of the past 15 years? Well, naturally, you spend nine months on a video that lasts just over two minutes; complete with animation, several different versions of yourself and a dizzying Groundhog Day-esque conceptuality. No, it hasn’t reached the levels of STIUTK either in terms of views or in terms of credit due, but it proves that no matter how big things get for Wally DeBacker, he’s always going to be an extremely creative working mind; continually exploring new ideas and innovations. God bless Wally de Backer.
Read my original post on Easy Way Out here.
+++
And there we go! Fifteen more to go, people!
Don’t forget to check out the first two parts here and here.
Watch This Now: King Parrot – “Shit on the Liver”
Here’s some thrashing insanity to take out our final week of new releases, heading down to Melbourne to say g’day to our new favourite metal dudes, King Parrot. I had the pleasure of seeing this lot as a part of the Bastardfest line-up in Canberra, and they were easily one of the most fun local acts I’ve seen of late. Although they’re a tight unit, playing thrashy blackened metal, they don’t bother taking themselves so seriously. After all, there’s just too much fun to be had!
Look no further than this video for an example of their twisted humour. After the band – all in facepaint, apparently farm workers – get a parking ticket from a dead ringer for Tony Martin, shit gets decidedly real. Although the cutscene is almost as long as the song itself, it’s still a hilarious take on how the anger in metal music can stem from the smallest of places. It’s impeccably shot, well-paced and thoroughly entertaining. Are you really looking for that much more out of your music videos – especially considering how many shithouse metal clips there are out there? Get fucking ropeable with a band I want to see more and more of in 2013.
Watch This Now: Die Antwoord – “Fatty Boom Boom”
“Money money money, yes yes yes, Zef Side represent, you’re fucking with the best…”
You didn’t think we were going to skip on this shit, did you? Surely not! Y,WGAV! has been Zef as fuck since the start of the year – need I remind you that the band’s insanely terrifying/awesome video for I Fink U Freeky was the first new video we blogged about this year? Things are slowly winding down on the promo cycle for Ten$ion, the crew’s second studio album, so this may well be the last thing we see from the group before a new LP is started upon. Still, what a way to go out!
In the video for Fatty Boom Boom, a tour guide is showing a very famous pop star, who’s never mentioned by name but one that you’ve probably seen here before, around South Africa. After her car is hijacked, the pop star wonders through the dangerous back-streets, while the colourful Antwoord crew jam out the song. It’s a lot more playful than the Freeky video, which is quite dark and intense. Those sort of moments are mostly fleeting, focusing on a bright colour scheme and some hilarious skit moments. I won’t go into detail, but let’s just say something comes out of someone’s private parts that isn’t supposed to come out of there at all. NSFW or the squeamish. Everyone else, please form an orderly line and twerk until you’ve put your back out.
Watch This Now: The Beards – “Got Me a Beard”
“Whenever I looked at a bearded man, it made me glad that I’d stuck to the plan…”
Okay, so I’m slightly late to the party on this one. Still, why would I EVER want to miss a video from the almighty bearded ones, known to us mere mortals as The Beards? We’re a few weeks away from their massive End of the World (For Beardless People tour, and I’m almost too keen to get amongst the madness in Wollongong. For now, though, this delightful animated romp will simply have to suffice – and that’ll do nicely, thanks all the same!
Our hero in the clip is a bearded dude who ends up in a nasty break-up due to his girlfriend wanting him to have a trim. Hell no, the beard won’t go. So, our hero gets out of the evil town of Shaverton and winds up in the Utopia of Beardland – a place for all bearded folk to roam free and in perfect harmony! Our hero has such a good time there, he decides to take the party all the way back to Shaverton. What follows is potentially the funniest final minute of a music video this year. No spoilers. You have been warned. Get bearded. Get bearded now.
Watch This Now: Dinosaur Jr. – “Watch the Corners”
“I’ve no-one to confide in, and I want you to be with us…”
Earlier today, we discussed the awesome team-up of David Byrne and St. Vincent. Keeping on that theme, I thought I’d alert you to another brilliant collaboration. In one corner, the noisy grunge dudes of Dinosaur Jr. They’ve just dropped a brand-new studio album entitled I Bet on Sky, far exceeding the normal anticipations that comes with a reunion. In the other corner: soon-to-be Australian visitor Tim Heidecker of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! fame. You’ve probably noted the T&E obsession with dads in the past, and now it all comes to great fruition: TIM HEIDECKER IS YOUR DAD!
Well, not your dad, specifically. He plays one in this great new video, in which his daughter starts work at the local supermarket and falls for one of the skate-rat wasters that also works there (think Breckin Meyer‘s character in Clueless). His face is blurred like the way you see on television for courtroom criminals, adding to the danger of his world and lifestyle. It’s an increasingly intense triangle between the three, which culminates in Heidecker losing his collective shit. It’s a really smart and well-paced video that does not waste any of the the five minutes given for the track. Heidecker really needs to do more of this sort of stuff – like, right now.
